Find Authentic Retreats in Tepoztln Mexico

"I needed true soul healing, and as I scrolled through all the offerings, I felt drawn to Ascension Journeyz. I believe it was Divine guidance that led me to this beautiful piece of heaven in the mountains of Mexico, because what has been created there is a place filled with a gentle love and devotion for all who come seeking a deeper connection with Source and higher understanding of Self. Topovan is a strong, beautiful soul who lives every word he speaks; and the truth of his words strike a chord that awakens the part of you that sometimes gets lost along the way. He connects with each person there and works tirelessly to take care of everyone’s needs. His yoga, meditation, and breathwork sessions reminded me how to breathe and how to connect with my higher power again-something I couldn’t do on my own after losing my son. Le’ Jai’ La is simply magical in every way—a sweet little Sprite sent to spread love, joy, understanding and wisdom from another realm-yet fierce in her determination to right the wrongs and heal the pain of Pachamama and many of her children. And, Mano is a gentle, old soul, whose strong, peaceful presence and beautiful music guided and grounded the ceremonies. His quietness spoke louder than the words of anyone I’ve ever met. If you are looking for a life-changing experience, this is it. I can’t say it was easy- we don’t learn the most valuable lessons during the easy times-but you will leave with a new soul family and with a new awareness that will change you forever. I am so grateful for my experience at Ascension Journeyz-So very thankful for Topovan, Jai’La, and Mano for all the love. "

" Thank you for fostering this radical movement in humanity. Your team has created the perfect pathway to mindfulness. I feel part of your community for I embraced the mission of spreading love and peace with my words and art which is a universal expression. May this review encourage those seeking the truth about life come to your retreat with an open mind and an open heart. 💚"

"5 stars go to the amazing food and the invigorating yoga/breathwork practices. However, I believe that the overall experience could have been enhanced with more personalized attention and a stronger sense of unconditional love. It would have been beneficial if Tapovan and Lejaila had invested more time in understanding each individual's needs and guiding them towards their desired outcomes. Conducting interviews with each participant beforehand could have ensured a more aligned and cohesive retreat experience focused on personal growth. It's important to ensure that all participants share a similar intention for the retreat, such as personal development. At times, it felt like the retreat attracted individuals who were primarily seeking a psychedelic trip rather than aligning with the retreat's stated mission. It seems that the primary focus of this retreat is to generate profit, with the psychedelic experience being seen as an added bonus. --- Response from the Retreat Centre: Dear Participant, Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and concerns. I truly appreciate your honesty and the effort you put into providing detailed feedback. Firstly, your feedback is valuable to us because it highlights areas where we can grow and improve. We are always happy to receive constructive feedback and we are committed to making the necessary changes to enhance the retreat experience for everyone, such as emphasizing the FREE pre-retreat discovery calls. Regarding your feeling of a lack of attention and personal engagement, we acknowledge that there is always room for improvement. Thanks to your excellent suggestion, we incorporated scheduled interviews with all participants and providing more personalized attention- I also would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the support we always offer during our retreats: 1. Comprehensive Information: Our website has detailed descriptions of the retreat, the program, the facilitators, and a FAQ section. It contains all the general information, and if anyone has any specific questions or doubts, we are always available for support. 2. Pre-Retreat Communication: Participants receive emails with all the information they need to prepare, including what to bring, the schedule, an extra information sheet about the ceremonies and the medicine, a waiver form, and general guidelines. Our WhatsApp number is included in every email signature for any questions, and participants can send a message and schedule a discovery call if needed (free of charge). 3. Personal Support: During the retreat, we regularly check in with participants to see if they need one-on-one time and we have two group integration circles after both ceremonies. I remember you had a long talk with Mano, the shaman, and also with his wife, Barbara during the ceremony. We offered our one-on-one help openly to anyone several times during the retreat, and many people took advantage of it. 4. Post-Retreat Support: We keep in touch after the retreat and have a group WhatsApp chat for ongoing support. You didn't raise any concerns through this channel either but wrote rather positive feedback. Please let us quote you so people can have a broader perspective of your experience with us: "I've kept following the guidelines we had before the retreat and I have been feeling like a totally new person!! I can see my own patterns easier now and I’ve also been able to observe and see other people’s “shadows/egos”. I remind myself all the time that “the perception of me is a reflection of you”. I feel like I’ve stepped back into my power (the intention I had) by having stronger boundaries and a stronger integrity. I speak up for myself. I see myself worthy on a new level and it’s funny because I’ve been getting evidence of that in form of increased income and nice gestures from people etc. this ended up to be a long text 😂 I am grateful for the medicine, all the insights and the new me✨💜" One's healing journey is often shaped by the connections we forge and the transparency we maintain. It's a fundamental truth that to be understood, one must first seek to understand, and to be seen, one must make themselves visible. Just to be clear, you registered for this retreat without asking a single question, never had any inquiries pre-retreat, and did not once communicate your desire to talk privately during the retreat. When we participate in a profound journey such as an ayahuasca retreat, the intention behind our actions and the clarity in our communication pave the road to the desired experience. We believe that mutual responsibility is essential for genuine connection and growth and we feel that it would have helped greatly if you had informed us about your desire to talk to us privately, we would have ensured you received the attention you needed, just as we did with all the other participants who expressed interest in having a private consultation apart from of the group integration circles. It’s important to us that each participant feels seen and supported throughout their journeys. Our true intention is to help humanity process and overcome unresolved past experiences and traumas, enabling us all to rise out of this collective self-inflicted state of suffering. While we do need to generate profit to sustain our operations within the current monetary system, our genuine interest lies in helping people grow and become happier, more balanced versions of themselves. We deeply appreciate your insights and feedback, as they are invaluable in helping us improve. We thank you very much and wish you a beautiful and continuous unfolding of your healing journey. Warm regards, Tapovan"

"The scheduling was perfect. It had the right QUANTITY and QUALITY of activities: Temazcal, Cold Plunge, Hiking, Inner Child Workshop, Qi Gong, Yoga, Meditation, Breathwork.... paired with the right number of ceremonies for the days and the right amount of integration time between the tougher events. It's obvious that Tapovan has experience running and partaking in healing retreats; he definitely knows how to best support people. Tapovan, as well as the other facilitators and even the facility staff were AMAZING. Tapovan and the team are heart-centered individuals who made themselves available for participants as needed The food ---- AMAZING, came back inspired to cook Setting ---- the 6-day retreat in Tepoztlan was in a nice mountain town surrounded by nature, lovely Schedule of events --- perfection Activities ---- exceeded my expectation, and very well guided"

"What an eye opening experience. I wasn't sure to expect. Coming here made all the difference. From the grounds, to the people helping around the property, to all the coordinators and facilitators that made this possible. Not only was this an amazing experience, but one that I will hold onto and remember for the rest of my life. THANK YOU for helping me with everything. Words can not begin to desribe the tranformative experience I partook in here. I will continue to use the tools in my day to day life. I plan on coming back in the future! "

"I think booking this retreat was one of the most smartest decision I made recently. I’m very thankful to Tapovan for providing such a great passage to ayahasca experience. He and his team made this retreat very well organized, safe, and interesting. They provided everything that was promised and expected. Food was awesome! If you’re looking to tap into ayahasca experience, look no more, these are the guys to go to ! "

"The mountain landscape is extremely beautiful. There is amazing food (I never knew vegetarian food could taste so good!) and very friendly and helpful staff. After the temazcal I truly feel I can make it through anything and also took a lot away from the breath-work and other workshops as well. The aya itself I can only describe as an experience that helps you look into yourself and love the people around you. Definitely a great experience."

"Come with intention but not expectation. Come open and willing to explore your most inner world. It may be scary , but that may be the point. The setting is amazing . We had everything we needed. The experience opened up the world to me that I forgot existed :)) "

"I had a good time doing the healing retreat hosted by Tapovan. I thought the entire retreat was well structured with several activities, in addition to the Ayahuasca ceremonies itself. Yoga, meditation and breathwork exercises taught by Tapovan were all super helpful and I'm planning to follow them in my day to day life. I wasn't entirely comfortable with Ayahuasca but I was still able to learn a lot about myself and have found many avenues to work on, post the retreat. Temazcal and ice bath were also incredibly enriching experiences. Overall, I think the retreat is well worth the money, given the plentiful activities in addition to Ayahuasca. Only word of caution for first time psychonauts like me: Ayahuasca is incredibly powerful and the experience is definitely not easy especially for a newcomer, so please proceed with caution. I would suggest trying shrooms before venturing into Ayahuasca. "

"I just came from a 6-day retreat at Ascension Journeyz and am still amazed at how transformational the experience was. Going into the retreat, I was both anxious about what the experience would be, but also extremely expectant, almost certain that the experience would not match what I had read, what I hoped, and what the results could be. My anxiety was unfounded. Tapovan, Carmen, Mano, and Barbara, along with everyone at the retreat, made the experience so welcoming, so serene, and so organized, that the anxious thoughts of what the Aya journeys would be like, never entered my mind. My expectations about the transformative nature of the journeys themselves were met and surpassed. The Medicine, Ayahuasca, itself is an extremely powerful and healing plant. However, what made the journeys so amazing were the set, settings, wisdom, caring, and community of the experience. It's impossible to convey the beauty of the music, the instruments, the voices, and the rhythms. The rituals add such an intense feeling of belonging that I always felt secure regardless of my personal Aya journey. And that is an important component of getting the most from the Medicine. There is a lot more to say about the two Aya ceremonies. Words cannot describe the beauty and its power though. A note on all the other healing activities that take place during the retreat, because they not only enhance the Aya journeys, they provide me with everyday practices that I can use to keep my transformation alive. Yoga, breathwork, ice bath, Temezcal, hiking into the mountains, meditation, and more. The entire retreat was so very well choreographed and organized, that it was hard to imagine that something truly spiritual was taking place. Finally, a note on the setting. The retreat is located in an amazingly beautiful mountain area, in the purported birthplace of the Aztec serpent god, Quetzalcoatl. The community that ran the retreat could not be kinder and more understanding of what we were trying to accomplish. Not an easy feat, given our goal of transformational healing. This is something that I certainly received with the help of Ayahuasca, the shamans and healers, other participants, the mountains, and the community. Thank you. "

"If you want to try 5MEO this is the best place to do it. Joel and Victoria are the best and most experienced in the land. I wouldn’t do it anywhere else"

"I feel so blessed to have known you. You radiate a love for the humanity that you nurture at Tandava. You are uniquely suited to what you do, embodying a boundless open heart guided by a keen mind dedicated to your service to the universe. I wish you (and all whose lives you touch) the best!"

"I appreciate your sharing your depth of knowledge (and experience) so openly. It all seems to flow so naturally from you. All the work you have done over the years in creating and nurturing the carefully crafted experience you provide ends up rippling waves through all the countless lives you touch (directly and indirectly)! The universe loves you right back!"

"- Expert leadership with a depth of knowledge combined with open hearts - Appropriate # of participants to provide feeling of both personal care and personal space - An appropriately respectful attitude towards all of life and the sacred medicine being experienced - Beautiful scenery and facilities connect the experience with nature - A strong integration framework for entering and leaving the retreat experience - 1 very entertaining cat!"

"Carla is great at her job. She is a caring and experienced Integrator. Was so fun to hang out with. Very skilled and intelligent. "

"Had an unbelievable experience with Mano. He is one of a kind. Very companionable and talented individual. "

"I don't know where to start. Thus man will always be a role model in my eyes. Patient and intelligent. Was a great instructor and facilitator. "

"Had an unbelievable experience. Was life changing and very inspiring. Learned many things and met some great lifelong friends. Wasn't sure at first if thus was my thing, but Topovan was great at teaching and pushing me past my comfort zone. So great. I would definitely recommend this"

"The retreat provide everything I was seeking from attending and more! Tapovan, Mano and Carla were exceptional human beings sharing their knowledge, spirituality and love, unconditionally! Both the Ayahuasca Ceremonies and the workshops provided me with amazing spiritual reconnections and a deepening relationship with Pachamama, Mother Earth. Mano, Tapovan and others played, sang and chanted amazing music all night long, until dawn, deepening our spiritual connections to Pachamama. The facility itself is community owned and managed, so that our presence was supporting the local community. It was also custom designed for Ayahuasca Ceremony's which was very helpful. The quality and quantity of the food was fabulous! First rate, delicious vegan and vegetarian dishes! Accommodations were adequate. This is a retreat center, not a luxury resort. Furnishing are sparce but adequate. I particularly liked that the buildings were made from thick adobe bricks which keep the interior cool during the warm days and then they radiated the heat they absorbed during the day back inside to warm the cool nights! All in all, a 5 Star + experience. I highly recommend it! Doug"

"The retreat from start to finish was an absolutely wonderful experience and very well thought out, planned and not to mention, the meals were delicious. This was my first experience with Ayuhuasca and I could not be happier i chose this centre! Tapovan, Carla and Mano are amazing guides whom each bring a wealth of knowledge, insights and most importantly, empathy - there is nothing more you could need! I went home feeling calm and at peace with myself and gained new tools and techniques to integrate into my daily life. "

"I attended the retreat to help with PTSD symptoms and other mental health issues. I am a military women veterans and ordinary treatment do not work for me. I am what they would call treatment resistant. I have delved into ayahuaka many times before, which helped a lot with some aspects of my traumas and was very helpful, but i was called to this medicine (retreat) because i knew there were some parts of me that were just very prominent in my everyday life such as my identity- ego. Joel and Victoria (facilitators), were a key point to my success during the retreat, they both are very knowledgeable but above that, they ensure that you do the work, they guide you when in times of crisis but do not try to input there experience or push there opinions of you. They just say it like it is, as it a individual journey. I am so very thankful that i decided to attend this retreat, with the teams. They are behold amazing. I received two calls, prior to the week retreat. During the retreat, the facilitator explain the process and take a one on one approach if needed by the participant. But the most amazing is that they do not force anything onto you, i was only able to take the medecine the first day, the second day, i was just unable to take it as my experience was very difficult and had many réactivation. But for the second day, medecine sessions they supported me, with meditation. I would recommend this retreat for those who are looking for healing, for a specific safe environment, were you can fully let go. The space was very clean, with a small group of three candidates. The space was perfect for this kind of experience. For myself, unlike everything i have read, my experience with the medecine was extremely difficult, i did not experience the blissfullness as often described during the ceremony. I experienced, exactly what my soul needed me to experience. I was dying over and over again, but the facilitators were present and keeping a safe space for me, with both feminine and masculine energy. "

"Carla showed us so many breathing and coping techniques that I can take home and do. She is super passionate about her work and it shows in her empathy and knowledge. She was a great addition to the retreat."

"I don't know what I was expecting but my first experience with a Shaman was amazing. Mano and his wife are just a joy to be around they are so warm and inviting. They really made my retreat even that much better. Their music and guidance was everything. "

"Tapovan is an amazing human. I am so glad that I had my first of this type of experience with his guidance. He made us always feel safe and secure and gave us so many tools to work with at home."

"The retreat was very well organized. The place was beautiful and peaceful, food was great. At all times I felt safe and supported to go on this journey. "

"I had a great time at this retreat. It's a good combination of relaxing place/atmosphere, beneficial yoga/breathwork sessions, and productive Ayahuasca ceremonies. Everyone has a different experience with aya, but I think it always has a positive effect though it may not always seem like it. I would definitely recommend this retreat. Even if you're not going through a tough time in life, this is a nice vacation with great people. If you are going through something, this will help you through."

"Let me just start by saying that I was extremely nervous about doing my first Aya retreat and Tapovan created a safe container where I felt safe enough to experience the medicine. My overall experience was great even though the trip wasn’t always pleasant. Mother aya is there to guide you on your journey so trust the process. The retreat itself was great and I felt like I was able to connect with a lot of the people there. Tapovan and the shaman and his wife were all amazing! I really enjoyed my experience at this retreat. Definitely recommend this retreat for anyone looking to do some healing work with Aya!"

"I attended the 6 days Ayahuasca retreat of Tapovan in Mexico.. the experience was amazingly beautiful and transformative, no words can explain it but I will do my best to describe how I felt about it. The villa was beautiful, spacious and clean with a beautiful pool backyard ,, surrounded by tropical trees where we did some of the meditation and yoga practice which helped us connect with nature and be even more mindful to our surroundings. When I arrived at the retreat, we got to meet everyone, and I could see that all of us were so much in need of healing including myself. I was on antidepressants and they helped me get off the medication few weeks before we met. The support I received from Tapovan and the Shaman was beyond anything that I can describe. Even the people who were at the retreat were very supportive, genuine and loving. We bonded in a way that is magical, as if we have know each other for a long time. Ayhuasca IS a magical medicine, it was a tough experience for me during the first ceremony , the second ceremony I was released from all my pain, traumas, fears and negative experiences. I have been on antidepressants for 3 years and nothing brought me back to life except this transformative experience. Tapovan has deep experience in meditation and he also gave us alot of tips to use during the ceremonies and also to apply it on our daily life. The food was delicious, light and fresh. The Shaman and his wife Barbara were so knowledgeable of the plant medicine, they played beautiful music and sang during the ceremonies which made the experience even more magical. I'm so grateful for this experience, it is like going to heaven for a week and then being released back again. I appreciate everything and everyone who made this happen. There has been alot of work and effort put into making this experience as great as it was. "

"I have nothing but praise for Tapovan Tamas, one of the amazing teachers that you will meat at this retreat. He will make you comfortable and give you guidance before the ayahuasca ceremony. Ultimately it's up to you, on how the whole experience goes. No one can tell you exactly what you will feel or how it is, because its different for every human. This medicine is taken to help heal or to get answers and you will receive both. You will Fall in love with the place, the food, the music and the atmosphere. These people are healers and teachers so expect a lot of love and a lot of healing from this experience! I trust you are strong enough to go through with it if you came so far and you are reading this. Good luck! You got this!"

"This was the most powerful experience I ever had with pyschedelics, or with anything else for that matter. Tandava's beautiful hosts, Joel and Victoria, made me feel safe to have that experience and the setting of the retreat is magical. Add Otto's gentle and insightful integration approach and Luis' heavenly cooking and there is nothing more you could want from a retreat like this. I went home feeling at peace with myself for the first time in a long time."